Beneath the hat of Kyle Garlick is his shaved head — a symbol of support for his mother. Cary Garlick was diagnosed with breast cancer a week before the Oregon baseball season started and recently started losing her hair. But leading up to his mother’s diagnosis, Kyle went through even more hardship.

During Kyle’s freshman year, he was introduced to Oregon tennis player Alex Rovello. Others suggested that the two skilled ping-pong players meet and play.

“We played a game and he absolutely destroyed me,” Kyle said. “Our relationship grew from there.”

In the 11th game of his junior season against Cal State Fullerton, Kyle suffered a season-ending wrist injury causing him to medically redshirt. However, this injury allowed Garlick to spend valuable time with Rovello. The two taught each other about their respective sports.

“I couldn’t keep (the tennis balls) on the court,” Kyle said.

But Rovello didn’t do much better with baseball. He would “swing and miss a lot,” according to Kyle.

“It was just fun hanging out together,” Kyle said.

Rovello asked Kyle if he wanted to go to the Blue Pool. He accepted. On May 11, 2013 Alex died after diving off a 60-foot cliff into the Blue Pool. Kyle witnessed it all.

“The first month after Alex passed it really hit me hard because he was such a close friend of mine,” Kyle said. ”I still think about him everyday.”

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During a game Kyle was about 11 years old, he fell asleep between innings due to a severe flu. In the last inning, Kyle couldn’t hold it in any longer and vomited on the infield dirt. Nobody noticed, except for his mother. Scared from the stands, she started yelling in order to make sure her son was okay.

“It shows what kind of mom she is: super caring and one who wants the best for me,” Kyle said.

His coach went out, rubbed some dirt over the vomit and the game finished.

“She was okay with that,” Kyle said.

Now at PK Park, Kyle tries to forget what his mother is going through when he is on the field, but it’s sometimes too difficult.

“I’m trying to send my prayers to her off the field but on the field I’m trying to focus on playing ball.” Kyle said. ”I try not to think about (the cancer), but it’s always there.”

He says he plays better with his family in the stands: it puts him in a better mood. During Oregon’s 5-3 win over Loyola Marymount on Feb. 22, with his family watching, Kyle hit a home run over the “Blue Monster.”

“It was so much fun seeing him hit that home run bomb,” his sister, Kristin, said.

“I feel like I have something to prove,” Kyle said. “Having something to play for with Alex Rovello passing and I try to play every game for my mom, as well.”

During Oregon’s series versus Washington State two weeks ago, Kyle’s mom sat in the stands during the cold and rainy weekend. But neither the cancer nor the weather mattered during those games because they were together. Kyle’s best fan was cheering him on.

Follow Andrew Bantly on Twitter @abant3